Choosing a Breast Pump

"Greetings! My name is Asma Hanif. I am a certified nurse midwife with a private practice in Baltimore, Maryland, and on behalf of Expert Village, this segment is on choosing a breast pump. Breast milk production works on the principle of supply and demand. The more breast milk your nursing baby consumes, the more your body will manufacture. There are many situations in which you may need to pump your milk. So short term, for example, occasional separation from your baby; maybe you want to go out to the mall or just get away and have your girls day out, taking a medication that is incompatible with breast feeding, your breasts may be engorged, or severe nipple soreness, or maybe you just want to increase your milk supply. These are reasons that one may choose to pump their breasts. There are basic types of breast pumps. There are several different types to choose from. There are many styles and models, but they often fall into three general categories, manual, battery-operated or electric. A manual breast pump requires you to pump a piston or squeeze the handle to create the suction to empty your breasts. They are light weight, easy to take with you and work quietly as you can express your milk discretely anywhere, without anyone knowing what is going on. These pumps empty only one breast at a time, and you may require two hands to operate. Battery-operated pumps on the other hand are another option for occasional pumping. The drawback of battery-operated pumps is that the battery needs to be recharged very frequently. The last type of breast pumps are the electric ones. Now the electric pumps are made with either an angle or a double pumping device. They are capable of pumping both breasts at once. This is an excellent choice for those who can afford it, however it is also time consuming, because you are restricted in terms of having to sit still somewhere. They make a lot of noise, and others will know that your are having your breast pump, because you have this electrical device attached to yourself. On behalf of Expert Village, this is Asma Hanif saying thank you for watching."